Lumbar agenesis with sacral sparing: a case report.

Caudal agenesis or caudal regression syndrome refers to a spectrum of malformations involving the lower spine, which can result in significant progressive or permanent neurologic defects. Caudal agenesis is frequently associated with other congenital anomalies of the axillary skeleton, hindgut and genitourinary systems. Described in this paper is a patient who presented with multiple clinical and radiographic findings consistent with caudal agenesis. This case is unique in that there is total absence of the lumbar vertebral column with an intact spinal cord and bony sacrum.

Iliopsoas myositis mimicking appendicitis: MRI diagnosis.

Myositis of the truncal muscles can closely mimic acute appendicitis. Myositis is the early stage of muscular infection. It is characterized by diffuse muscular pain and swelling without a distinct mass. Early diagnosis of myositis improves the outcome and surgical debridement is usually avoided. Pyomyositis, the advanced stage of the disease, can be diagnosed by MRI examination. We present a case of early bacterial myositis that was diagnosed by MRI.

Necrotizing fasciitis: CT characteristics.

PURPOSE: To establish computed tomographic (CT) criteria for the diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty CT scans in 20 patients with pathologically proved necrotizing fasciitis were reviewed retrospectively for fascial thickening, fat infiltration, focal fluid collection, soft-tissue gas, muscle involvement, and intra-abdominal extension; the findings were correlated with clinical factors, including associated illnesses, disease site, treatment, and outcome. RESULTS: Average patient age was 57.8 years; there were 13 men and seven women. Four patients (20%) died. Asymmetric fascial thickening and fat stranding were seen in 16 patients (80%). Gas tracking along fascial planes was present in 11 patients (55%), and abscesses were found in seven patients (35%). Infection sites were scrotum (n = 6), a lower extremity (n = 4), perineum (n = 4), neck (n = 2), back (n = 2), arm (n = 1), and abdomen (n = 1). Underlying illness (n = 17) was diabetes in 10 patients (50%), alcoholism in three (15%), chronic renal failure in two (10%), and drug abuse in two (10%). CONCLUSION: CT criteria of asymmetric fascial thickening and gas are valuable in assessing suspected necrotizing fasciitis. CT also can provide information on coexistent deep collections.

Evaluation of various maneuvers for prevention of air embolism during central venous catheter placement.

This study is designed to evaluate the various physiologic maneuvers (Valsalva, humming, breath-hold) for the potential prevention of air embolism during central venous catheter placement. Central venous pressure measurements were prospectively obtained in 40 patients undergoing central venous catheter placement. The average central venous pressure at baseline was 3.275 mm Hg (range = -4 to 16, SD = 5.99). The average central venous pressure during breath hold was 6.1 mm Hg (range = -6 to 24, SD = 7.99). The average central venous pressure during humming was 5.1 mm Hg (range = -4 to 20, SD = 6.4) The average central venous pressure during the Valsalva maneuver was 18.43 (range = -3 to 48, SD = 14.73). Forty percent of patients (16 of 40) had negative central venous pressures at rest, 25% (10 of 40) had negative pressures during breath hold, 20% (8 of 40) had negative pressures during humming, and 2.5% (1 of 40) had negative pressures during Valsalva maneuver. The average increases in central venous pressure during breath hold, humming, and Valsalva were 2.85, 1.82, and 15.2 mm Hg, respectively. The difference between pressures during Valsalva and other maneuvers was statistically significant (P <.05). The conclusion is that the Valsalva maneuver is superior to breath-hold and humming for increasing central venous pressure during central venous catheter placement and, therefore, it is more likely to prevent air embolism in cooperative patients.

Head trauma: CT scan interpretation by radiology residents versus staff radiologists.

PURPOSE: To determine the rate and clinical outcome of discrepancies in interpretation by radiology residents and staff neuroradiologists of posttraumatic cranial computed tomographic (CT) scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective evaluation was performed for 419 consecutive emergency posttraumatic cranial CT studies that had been interpreted by radiology residents on call over a 16-month period. Discrepancies between the interpretations made by residents and those made by staff radiologists were divided into two groups: failure to recognize an abnormality (false-negative finding) and interpretation of normal as abnormal (false-positive finding). Discrepancies were considered major if they could affect patient care in the emergency setting and minor if they could not. RESULTS: Major and minor discrepancies were 1.7% and 2.6%, respectively, among interpretations made by residents and those by staff radiologists. Major discrepancies were four subdural hematomas, one pneumocephalus, one hemorrhagic contusion, and one subarachnoid hemorrhage. Minor discrepancies included six skull and five facial fractures. The discrepancy rate was statistically significantly higher (12.2%) when CT findings were abnormal than when they were normal (1.5%). No change in treatment was attributed to the delay in diagnosis. CONCLUSION: A low discrepancy rate was found between interpretations made by radiology residents and those made by staff neuroradiologists of posttraumatic cranial CT scans. There were no adverse clinical outcomes.